(USA Today) --Putting job candidates through grueling contests hasn't proved to be a TV entertainment bonanza for a recession-weary public: CBS has pulled The Job after only two episodes, effectively giving the Friday reality competition its walking papers.

The show, from producers Mark Burnett (Survivor) and Michael Davies (Who Wants to Be a Millionaire) attracted just 4 million viewers for its Feb. 8 premiere, dropping to 3.4 million for Friday's second episode. Its performance in the young-adult demographic pursued by advertisers was weak as well.

The series had five aspirants compete in front of executives for positions including an assistant manager at The Palm and an editorial assistant at Cosmopolitan.

Seeing bosses descend to the working world and discover just how things really are has proved far more attractive: Undercover Boss, which had aired in the slot, averaged more than double the viewers and returns to the time period Friday (8 ET/PT).